Do you have limited storage space at home or a small car boot? Or are you planning a holiday and you’d like a pushchair that easy to fold & transport for the journey? Or are you looking for a spare pushchair to keep at your grandparent’s house? A space-saving, compact, lightweight stroller could be the one for you!
But, with so many compact buggies available on the market, how do you choose the right one?
Firstly, think about the reasons you need a compact buggy and then think about the features that are important for you, your little one and your lifestyle.
For example, some buggies can fold with a simple one-hand operation (great if you’re on and off public transport a lot), some can be worn as a backpacks (handy if you need your hands free to hold your little one) and some fold-up small enough to fit into the overhead cabin on a plane (very useful to not have to worry at the airport about collecting your pushchair from the carousel at once you’ve landed at your destination).
With a wide selection of pushchairs and strollers on the market, prices naturally vary too. Before buying, think about how much you will use the compact pushchair, are you going to use it every day or just a couple of times per week? You might not want to spend a small fortune if you’re only going to use it a few times!
Tip: If you’ll be using the pushchair from birth, keep in mind that babies under six months should lie flat when sleeping, so choose a compact stroller with a seat that reclines fully-flat or, better still, a lie-flat carrycot.
At My Buggy My Car we’ve captured the measurements across the entire buggy market and have hand-picked our top 5 compact strollers. No matter your needs, there’s a stroller suit you and your little one best…
1. Britax Römer Holiday²
- Age suitability: 6 months – 3 years
- Weight: 5.4kg
- Folded Dimensions: (with seat unit and wheels) H:60cm x W:25.5cm x D:24cm
- Latest Prices can be found here.
No matter where or how you like to travel, the lightweight BRITAX RÖMER HOLIDAY2 is the perfect companion for your trip. It has a very compact fold and a carry strap for ease of transport. You can quickly and easily pack it up and leave for your next destination. In addition, the reclining backrest and foot support offer a comfortable ride for your little one.
When folded this buggy is small enough to fit in almost any car boot. The buggy stands conveniently on its wheels when folded, keeping the buggy fabric off the ground so they stay clean for longer.
We think the Britax Holiday would be worth considering for parents of children aged 6 months up who want a lightweight, great value stroller to take on trips, or who are in need of a second buggy for short everyday trips.
Please note that with a folded length of 60cm this buggy is slightly over the limit to take on many flights as carry-on baggage.
2. Babyzen YoYo+
- Age suitability: From Birth (with newborn pack)
- Weight: 6.2kg or 6.6kg
- Folded Dimensions: H:52cm x W:44cm x D:18cm
- Latest Prices can be found here.
The YoYo+ has a newborn configuration which makes it a fantastic compact buggy to use from birth and it’s parent-facing (always a bonus to be able to enjoy precious bonding time with your baby). Even in this configuration it still folds entirely and remains compact (even with the footmuff attached).
From 6 months, the backrest can be inclined to multi positions and features comfortable padding a 5-point harness.
You can fold and unfold the stroller with one hand which is a fantastic feature meaning you can safely hold your child at the same time. In addition, when folded you can carry it over your shoulder (thanks to the handy strap!)
Its lightweight chassis, full suspension and patented ‘soft drive’ system means it steers and moves easily and can be even pushed one-handed. Because of its compact size, it can be even taken as cabin luggage by most airlines.*
We think it’s definitely worth considering if you are travelling abroad with a newborn baby or toddler or as an alternative to other Travel systems for everyday use but, it does come with a price tag to match.
Will the buggy fit in my car?
Our online tool will tell you whether your Buggy should fit in your Car Boot and in what position or orientation it will fit, find out here.
3. Ergobaby Metro Compact City Stroller
- Age suitability: From 6 months up to 18 kg (from birth with Newborn Kit)
- Weight: 6.3 kg
- Folded Dimensions: H:52cm x W:44cm x D:23cm
- Latest prices can be found here.
The Ergobaby Metro Stroller is ultra-compact and easily fits on buses, tubes and trains in small car boots and it can be even taken as cabin luggage by most airline companies*.
It is comfortable for a compact stroller with cushy padding, reclining seat and adjustable leg rest. It also has suspension and large back tyres that can handle pavement cracks, uneven roads and kerbs giving baby a smooth ride.
The Ergobaby Metro has an easy, one-hand fold – helpful for when you have to hold your baby with your other arm while folding your stroller! In addition, it has has a fully flat position for newborns with the Metro Newborn Kit. We also loved the large storage basket because who doesn’t need more storage space!?
Surprisingly sturdy for a compact stroller and easy to manoeuvre, but we did find it tricky to assemble initially.
We think it’s great if you are looking for a mid-range buggy to use around a city on public transport or are a frequent traveller.
4. Mima Zigi
- Age suitability: From 6 months (or birth with carrycot)
- Weight: 7.6 kg
- Folded Dimensions: H:56cm x W:45 x D:25 cm
The Mima Zigi offers sleek lines and impressively engineered frame. As well as looking good it offers baby a really comfortable ride too with small nippy wheels and a great suspension system.
It is very simple to open and close and it requires no assembly – ready to use straight from the box! It is lightweight, sturdy, easy to carry and store. The freestanding compact fold makes for a perfect travel companion on public transport and holidays. It is also compact enough to be accepted as cabin luggage with many airlines*.
However, the standard configuration is only suitable for use from 6 months and the seat is world-facing. It can be used from birth with the addition of a carrycot or car seat which means it might not be an ideal choice for travelling on public transport or an aeroplane with a newborn baby if you want to take advantage of the compact fold.
We think that the Mima Zigi is a perfect choice for parents living life on the go in urban environments or travelling with a toddler. Whilst this is a great buggy it does come with a hefty price tag.
Diono Traverse
- Age suitability: From Birth
- Weight: 5.6kg
- Dimensions: Folded H:60cm x W:41.5cm x D:23.5cm
- Latest Prices can be found here.
The Diono Traverse is built for travel. Thanks to an extendable telescopic handle and travel bag you can pull it along through the airport just like a wheelie suitcase (though note, whilst it may be accepted by some airlines as carry-on, it is slightly too large for a majority*). It also has a hide-away water-resistant protective cover.
The Diono Traverse folds up easily, is nice and small and it is freestanding when folded too which makes it easier to store. It does have a reclining backrest but it does not lie completely flat (so you may wish to re-think purchasing this if your baby is under 6 months). It does have an easy to use one-touch brake though which is great for staying in control of it while out and about.
We think it has a reasonable price tag and could make journeys easier for families who enjoy travelling.
Please check your baggage allowance and restrictions with your airline before travelling. A comprehensive list from Skyscanner.net is available here.
Price Comparison!
Remember, you can find the latest prices for buggies across the entire UK market using our price comparison tool here.
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